The inner workings of motorcycle clubs often remain shrouded in mystery. In The Last Chicago Boss: My Life with the Chicago Outlaws Motorcycle Club (St. Martin’s Press; On-sale: September 19, 2017), Peter “Big Pete” James reveals how he became the “Godfather” of the Chicago Outlaws, taking readers inside the secretive club.

Written with Kerrie Droban, the critically-acclaimed and award-winning author of Prodigal Father, Pagan Son and Vagos, Mongols, and Outlaws, THE LAST CHICAGO BOSS reads like “Sons of Anarchy” come to life. The story is made all the more vivid through never-before-revealed interviews, police files, wiretaps, recordings, and trial transcripts.

Big Pete

Even as a child, Big Pete had grand ambitions. Whether it was besting his father at chess or betting on horse races with his Uncle Tony, Big Pete collected lessons on power, money, and human nature. With nothing less than becoming the boss of Chicago on his mind, Big Pete began working his way into the Outlaws, determined to become a trusted member.

Before long, he was a full patch member, working steadily up the ladder. He first set his sights on the Angels, the Outlaws’ main rival. He organized members and launched “Angel Hunts” all over Chicago. As head Outlaw, Big Pete attempted something unprecedented—he persuaded thousands of members of splintered Outlaw clubs to unite. These formerly discontented bikers came together in a new, more powerful, group. They became an extraordinarily commanding criminal syndicate involved in extortion, contract murders, drugs and arms trafficking, money laundering, and assassinations.

Then one day Big Pete found himself doubled over in pain, his body shutting down with fatigue. The diagnosis was cancer—eventually he would have a kidney removed. His cancer would change everything—he realized he could no longer run his club and battle his disease. In a painful process, Big Pete watched his club crumble.

Readers get unprecedented access to the inner workings of a motorcycle club from the perspective of the man who led them in this extraordinary memoir.

About The Authors

Peter “Big Pete” James was known as the “Godfather” of the Chicago Outlaws Motorcycle Club having formed and commanded a coalition of 38 motorcycle clubs and 8 Outlaw Motorcycle Club Chapters in the Chicagoland area in his twenty year career.

Kerrie Droban is the co-author of Prodigal Father, Pagan Son: Growing Up Inside the Dangerous World of the Pagans Motorcycle Club and author of Running with the Devil: The True Story of the ATF’s Infiltration of the Hells Angels, winner of the USA Book News National Book Award for Best Memoir/Autobiography and two-time winner for their True Crime award. She is also the author of Vagos, Mongols & Outlaws: My Infiltration of America’s Deadliest Biker Gangs, which is now a television series entitled “Gangland Undercover” produced by the History Channel. She is a criminal defense attorney in Arizona.

For more information, or to set up an interview with Peter “Big Pete” James and/or Kerrie Droban contact Rebecca Lang, Publicity Manager at Rebecca.Lang@stmartins.com or 646-307-5573